Department for Transport

Freight Facilities Grant

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how manymaritime operators have used the (1) Mode Shift Revenue Support, and (2) Waterborne Freight Grant, schemes.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: There are no currently supported flows by inland waterways and there have been none during the last three financial years since April 2019. This scheme is open to all freight operators, including maritime operators, who wish to move freight through inland water freight transport instead of road, where inland waterway transport is more expensive. There have been no projects supported by the Waterborne Freight Grant during the last three financial years since April 2019. This scheme is also open to all freight operators, including maritime operators, who wish to run waterborne freight transport instead of road, where transport by water is more expensive.

East Coast Main Line: Railway Signals

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 8 July (HL1360), what assessment they have made of additional capacity that will be produced by the East Coast Digital Programme.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The introduction of digital signalling, as part of the East Coast Digital Programme, will increase rail system capability. This can either be used to increase performance or capacity. The priority for the East Coast Digital Programme, and therefore the central economic analysis in the Full Business Case, has assumed that the benefits offered by this increased system capability are captured as performance improvements, including reduction in passenger delays by improving the reliability of infrastructure and improved punctuality of trains which delivers additional revenue from an increase in passenger numbers.

East Coast Main Line: Railway Signals

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 8 July (HL1360), who are the industry partners who have provided cost estimates for funding the East Coast Digital Programme; what is the 3 Lines of Defence approach to scrutinising cost estimates; and who is responsible for the independent analysis within the 3 Lines of Defence approach.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The success of the East Coast Digital Programme is dependent on collaborative business change across a number of organisations, known as industry partners. Alongside my Department and Network Rail, these include passenger and freight train operators and suppliers. The 3 Lines of Defence approach is the formal Network Rail Cost Estimate Assurance process. The 1st line is led by business operations which perform the day to day activity. At this stage proposed costs are assessed to ensure they capture all relevant scope and risk as well as being sufficiently evidenced. The 2nd line is provided by other functions in the business to provide a strategic overview of costs and to ensure work has been undertaken diligently. The 3rd line is independent assurance, which for the East Coast Digital Programme Full Business Case was provided by Turner and Townsend. In addition to this assurance, the Department’s Centre of Excellence and the Infrastructure Projects Authority have both independently reviewed the Programme, prior to approval of the Full Business Case.

Bus Services: Industrial Disputes

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to prepare for bus workers going on strike this month.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, everywhere has access to great bus services and regularly engages with bus operators on a variety of issues. Where there are disputes between a private entity and its employees relating to employees’ terms and conditions, it is the responsibility of the company concerned to resolve these issues and make conditions for their employees sufficiently appealing. The Government recognises the importance of bus services to the everyday lives of the travelling public. Where industrial action is set to occur, we expect operators to make efforts to minimise disruption and to ensure those reliant on their services can still travel.

Electric Scooters: Regulation

Lord Naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to regulate e-scooters in the same ways as other road vehicles, including through the use of (1) speed limits, (2) number plates, and (3) mandatory insurance.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: It is the intention of the Government that the Transport Bill will create a new low-speed zero emission vehicle category that is distinct from the existing cycle and motor vehicle categories. New powers in the Bill would allow the Government to decide which vehicles will fall into this category and make regulations to ensure that they are safe to use and safe for pedestrians and other road users. The Government plans to use these powers to legalise e-scooter use, with robust technical requirements and clear expectations of users. We are currently considering options for e-scooter regulations, including such things as the requirements for users to hold a driving licence or to register and insure the vehicle, and various technical specifications for vehicles including maximum speed limits. No decisions have been made, and we will consult before they come into force so that, all interested parties have a chance to shape the new regime.

Parking: Pedestrian Areas

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan torespond to the results of their 'Managing pavement parking' public consultation, which ran from 31 August 2020 to 22 November 2020.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: We are actively considering the options for pavement parking policy and will publish the formal consultation response and announce next steps as soon as possible. The formal consultation response will be available to view on the Gov.uk website.

Bus Services: Travel Information

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have not (1) responded, or (2) taken action, following their 'Bus Services Act 2017: accessible information' public consultation, which ran from 5 July 2018 to 16 September 2018.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department agrees that it is essential that buses should have accessible onboard information to help all passengers to travel with confidence. Since the 2018 consultation the Department has worked with industry specialists to determine the most appropriate way forward, and to ensure that the proposed Regulations take full account of the way local services are provided in England, Scotland and Wales.

Electric Scooters

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have extended trials of rented electric scooters to 2024; and how the outcome of those trials will be taken into account in the proposed Transport Bill.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government has decided to allow e-scooter trials to be extended from November 2022 to 31 May 2024. The extension will be restricted to existing trial areas only and will allow us to gather further evidence where gaps are identified, building on the findings of the current evaluation. The move towards a new regime means that the trials continue to have significant value, as well as providing a practical example of how better regulation can encourage responsible use. Evidence we are gathering through these trials and other data sources is helping us to understand the safety and wider impacts of e-scooters. We intend to publish the findings from the current national evaluation later this year.

Aviation: Noise

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to incorporate the World Health Organization noise guidelines, published in 2018, into legislation related to aviation.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government has no current plan to legislate to incorporate the World Health Organisation (WHO) Environmental Noise Guidelines into UK law.Following the 2018 publication of the WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines, the Government convened the DEFRA-led Interdepartmental Group on Costs and Benefits Noise Subject Group. This group continues to review the evidence underpinning the WHO’s guidelines, together with more recent evidence and it will consider whether there are any necessary updates to relevant government guidance.

British Airways: Strikes

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they havemade of the impact of any strike action of British Airways staff on travel at airports in the summer; and what plans they have to prevent any further travel disruption if such strikes take place.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The aviation industry operates in the private sector, therefore an industrial action is a matter for British Airways and the unions. Ultimately, this strike action by Unite the Union and GMB has been suspended following a higher pay offer from British Airways. This offer will now be put to a vote of union members.

Railways: Tickets

Lord Naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to safeguard the role of the ticket office across the rail network.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: No final decision has been taken on ticket offices. Ticket offices have seen a significant decline in use over the last decade, yet their numbers have not substantially changed. Staff will always provide face-to-face services on the railways, which can be crucial for those who need additional support and cannot, or do not want to, use contactless or mobile tickets. There is a process for train operators to propose any changes to the opening hours of ticket offices or for closing ticket offices which is set out in the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, which regulates what train operators can do in terms of fares, ticketing and retailing across the network. This can be found on the Rail Delivery Group’s website.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Help to Grow Schemes

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a Help to Grow Scheme for the third sector.

Lord Callanan: Studies show that improving the performance of UK SMEs to match competitor countries such as Germany, could add up to £100 billion to the economy. Help to Grow aims to close that gap by specifically targeting SMEs who will benefit in a way that impacts growth potential and productivity. There are currently no plans to introduce a Help to Grow scheme for the third sector. Businesses applying to either Help to Grow schemes (management and digital) must:Be registered in the UK;Have between 5-249 employees;Have been operating for at least twelve months​; andNot be a charity.

Fertilisers

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps theyare taking to keep fertiliser plants open amidst rising gas prices.

Lord Callanan: The Government is closely monitoring the fertiliser market. On 6 May, the Government announced steps to support farmers with cost pressures caused by demand and instability seen across the globe – Direct Payments in England will be paid in two instalments each year for the remainder of the agricultural transition period, to help farmers with their cashflow. Furthermore, we have provided more than £2 billion in relief to help Energy Intensive Industries with electricity costs since 2013 – Fertiliser plants are recipients of this support.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Medical Treatments

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the recent reported increase in COVID-19 infections, what plans they have (1) to meet with charities working with the clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19, and (2) to set out their strategy for protecting the clinically extremely vulnerable if Evusheld is not procured and made available; and what assessment they have made of how effectively this strategy will protect the clinically extremely vulnerable in the absence of Evusheld procurement or a reversion to non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing and mask mandates.

Lord Kamall: The term ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ (CEV) is no longer in use following the end of the shielding programme in September 2021. The majority of people previously identified as CEV are now well protected through the vaccination programme. There is a smaller patient cohort whose immune systems mean that they continue to be at higher risk of infection. The Department continues to regularly engage with charities and organisations representing those whose who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised.The Government has issued public health advice for those at higher risk in an online only format, which advises eligible individuals to ensure they receive additional doses of the vaccines as appropriate. Many people in this cohort are also eligible for new monoclonal antibody and antiviral treatments to prevent the risk of serious illness and hospitalisation. The advice also suggests that those who are immunosuppressed should seek advice from their National Health Service clinician where appropriate and consider additional steps to prevent the risk of infection. This may include avoiding those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and their household contacts until 10 days after a positive test and ensuring their home is well ventilated when receiving visitors.The Department is currently conducting its assessment of the effectiveness of Evusheld, which includes requesting advice from clinicians in line with available data, the public health situation and other treatments available. While we are considering the advice received, we are unable to confirm a specific timetable for any decision. However, we provide an update to Parliament shortly.

Healthy Start Scheme

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the potential merits of introducing an automatic registration process for the Healthy Start scheme.

Lord Kamall: The Department has not considered the potential merits of introducing an automatic registration process for the Healthy Start scheme.The NHS Business Services Authority operates the Healthy Start scheme which has recently transitioned from paper vouchers to a prepaid card. All applicants to the scheme, where they meet the eligibility criteria set out in the legislation, must accept the terms and conditions of the prepaid card at the point of application. As the prepaid card is a financial product and cannot be issued without the applicant accepting these terms, the NHS Business Services Authority cannot automatically provide eligible families with a prepaid card.

NHS: Coronavirus

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the forecast cost pressures on the NHS due to COVID-19 (1) in July, and (2) for the rest of the 2022–23 financial year.

Lord Kamall: No assessment has been made in the format requested. However, the Spending Review 2021 provided £6.096 billion for the National Health Service to fund the recovery from COVID-19 in 2022/23. The funding was provided to address the impact of the pandemic on NHS services, funding for costs directly incurred by COVID-19 costs and new pressures relating to anticipated service demand.

Bread and Flour: Folic Acid

Lord Rooker: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Kamall on 6 July (HL Deb col 999), whether they will cite the “scientific contestation” referred to concerning folic acid fortification as part of the Bread and Flour Regulations review.

Lord Rooker: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord Kamall on 6 July (HL Deb col 1000), whether they will give details of the cases where people “have died because of high levels of folic acid”.

Lord Rooker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with governments of other nations which operate a policy of mandatory fortification with folic acid regarding any unintended consequences which have arisen.

Lord Rooker: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Kamall on 6 July (HL Deb cols 1001–2) regarding the scientific evidence available regarding folic fortification, whether they will publish the science brief referred to by Lord Kamall referencing heliocentrism versus geocentrism.

Lord Kamall: The scientific contestation referred to is summarised in the paper Folic acid and neural tube defects: Discovery, debate and the need for policy change by Professor Nicholas Wald. Professor Wald asserts that the United Kingdom should pursue a higher level of fortification than would be permitted by the UK’s Tolerable Upper Level (TUL). A copy of the paper is attached.The Government and its independent scientific advisory bodies have agreed that fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid, at a level informed by the guidance for supplemental intake of folic acid intake advised by the UK Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals, is a safe and effective measure to reduce the number of neural tube defects (NTDs).This view is supported by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) and by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). In 2018 COT published Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment: COT position paper on the current upper level for folic acid intake in response to a previous paper by Professor Wald, addressing the technical points raised in objection to the TUL and continuing to recommend its use. A copy of this paper is attached.Deaths associated with high levels of folic acid refers to potential unintended harms which may arise following the fortification of flour with folic acid, such as an increase in the potential masking of vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anaemia where the deficiency can cause permanent neurological damage which can lead to death if untreated.No recent discussions have taken place with countries which have implemented folic acid fortification on unintended consequences of the policy. However, evidence from a number of countries, including those which have implemented folic acid fortification policies, was considered by the SACN and COT to establish the safety and efficacy of fortifying food with folic acid. Analysis by COT and the SACN found that there was insufficient evidence to discount a number of potential risks at very levels of fortification.While there is no specific scientific briefing relating to the debate between heliocentrism versus geocentrism, as I stated in the debate, we will routinely review the policy post-implementation to ensure it meets the objective of reducing NTDs while avoiding any unintended consequences. The forthcoming consultation will outline the proposed fortification levels with the supporting scientific rationale.A (pdf, 1052.5KB)B (pdf, 26.1KB)

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps theyhave taken to establish a sub-committee of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on Respiratory Syncytial Virus, as discussed in the JCVI meetings in (1) June 2019, and (2) October 2019.

Lord Kamall: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) monitors new vaccines in development to inform future work and is aware of a range of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines and monoclonal immunisations in late stages of development. The JCVI’s secretariat is planning for a subcommittee on RSV to review these products and advise on the potential use in the national immunisation programme. The timing of the subcommittee will be dependent on progress towards authorisation for these products. However, the first meeting is expected to take place either at the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing and Screening

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take in response to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases; and what plans they have (1) to re-introduce free testing, and (2) to update their advice on the wearing of face masks.

Lord Kamall: The COVID-19 vaccination and booster programme and the availability of antiviral treatments has ensured a reduced risk of severe illness or hospitalisation. We have transitioned the response towards guidance and encouraging responsible behaviours, while targeting protection towards those individuals most at risk from the virus. Testing remains available for eligible groups, including for certain high-risk individuals and settings.It is currently recommended that face coverings should be worn when COVID-19 rates are high, in crowded and enclosed spaces and when coming into close contact with individuals at high risk. While there are currently no plans to update the guidance on wearing face coverings, the Government continues to assess the situation and will take further action if required to ensure the response remains effective and proportionate.

Hospitals: Protective Clothing

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plansthey have to reintroduce mandatory mask-wearing in hospitals.

Lord Kamall: Mask wearing in National Health Service hospitals is determined locally by individual, organisational and system risk assessments. NHS England continues to work with NHS trusts to ensure that effective infection prevention and control is in place in all areas.

Hospitals: Construction

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will list the 40 new hospitals they have promised to build; how much building work has been completed on each new hospital; and when they expect each new hospital to admit its first patients.

Lord Kamall: The Government has committed to build 40 new hospitals by 2030, in addition to eight previously announced schemes.The schemes are grouped into five cohorts for delivery by 2030, based on an assessment of readiness to progress and the extent to which schemes can realise the benefits of the national programme. This assessment is subject to continuous review and the timescales for individual schemes may change. A list of schemes and cohorts is attached, due to the size of the data. This includes where schemes are in construction and projected opening dates where this information is held centrally. There are eight schemes in cohort five, which refers to schemes yet to be confirmed and currently subject to an ongoing selection process.Table (docx, 22.5KB)

PHE Reproductive Health, Sexual Health and HIV Innovation Fund

Baroness Barker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what investment they will makein the Sexual Health, Reproductive Health and HIV Innovation Fund this financial year.

Baroness Barker: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was allocated tothe Sexual Health, Reproductive Health and HIV Innovation Fund in the financial years (1) 2021–22, and (2) 2022–23.

Baroness Barker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps theywill take to ensure that the next round of the Sexual Health, Reproductive Health and HIV Innovation Fund focuses on (1) tackling inequalities, and (2) communities who have not seen the same improvement in HIV outcomes.

Baroness Barker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensurethat the next round of the Sexual Health, Reproductive Health and HIV Innovation Fund includes a focus on (1) shared learning, and (2) ensuring successful pilot projects feed in to national services.

Lord Kamall: In December 2021, we announced that an independent review of the impact of the Sexual Health, Reproductive Health and HIV Innovation Fund had been commissioned. The review has now been completed and we are currently considering its findings to inform further steps in 2022. Decisions on future investment in the Fund will be made in due course. In 2021/22, £300,000 was allocated to the Innovation Fund.The Fund aims to support projects which address inequalities and focus on those with poor sexual and reproductive health and HIV outcomes. Bids for funding have previously been assessed on sustainability and how learning will be shared across the sector, including into national services. A library of resources and learning from projects supported by previous Funds is being compiled and will be published later this year.

Department for Education

Agriculture: Apprentices

The Earl of Leicester: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many apprenticeships in the farming industry were (1) started, and (2) completed, in each year between 2018 and 2021.

Baroness Barran: The department publishes the Apprenticeships in England by Industry Characteristics publication that shows apprenticeship starts amongst employers in the Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing enterprise sector: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-in-england-by-industry-characteristics#content-3-heading.Apprenticeship starts in the Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing sector (and its sub-divisions) from the 2017/18 to the 2020/21 academic years are shown in the attached table and can be found in the 'Apprenticeship starts' tab.Industry based data is not held for achievements. However, the most timely data for starts and achievements for apprentices studying agricultural and related subjects from the 2017/18 to the 2020/21 academic years can also be found in the attached table and can be found in the 'Starts and achievements' tab.  HL1525 Table (xls, 31.5KB)

Agriculture and Countryside: Education

The Earl of Leicester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to teach school children about the countryside and British farming.

Baroness Barran: There are opportunities within the geography and science curriculums to teach about the countryside, farming and agriculture, and how important the latter are to food production. These do not feature as stand-alone topics in the National Curriculum. The National Curriculum is a framework designed to give teachers the freedom and flexibility to cover particular topics in greater depth if they wish, and this could include teaching about the countryside and farming. As part of the department’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, our National Education Nature Park initiative will also give children and young people the opportunity to learn about and connect with nature. By 2025 we aim to introduce a natural history GCSE, giving young people a further opportunity to engage with and develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the natural world. In studying this GCSE, young people will explore organisms and environments in more depth, gain knowledge and practical experience of fieldwork and develop a greater understanding of conservation.

Adoption

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings included in Adoption UK’s Barometer Report, published in June, which found that 85 per cent of the adopters surveyed said their adoption agency does not regularly review their child’s contact arrangements with birth relatives; and what plans they have to make such reviews mandatory.

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings included in Adoption UK’s Barometer Report, published in June, which showed that only (1) 12 per cent of adopters surveyed were offered advice and training on establishing contact with birth family relatives of their adopted child, and (2) 17 per cent of adopted adults surveyed reported being given any professional support prior to establishing contact with their own birth family in childhood; and what steps they plan to take in response.

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to Adoption UK’s Barometer Report, published in June, what steps they are taking to measure the impact of a lack of support for adopted people and their families when establishing birth family contact.

Baroness Barran: Local authorities have a legal duty to provide a comprehensive adoption service. This specifically includes 'Assistance, including mediation services, in relation to arrangements for contact between an adoptive child and a natural parent, natural sibling, former guardian or a related person of the adoptive child', as set out in Adoption Support Services Regulations 2005. It be found at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/691/part/2/made?view=plain. Contact arrangements should be reviewed regularly, and families should be supported with the contact arrangements before, during and after the adoption.As set out in our 'Adoption Strategy: achieving excellence everywhere', the department is working with Regional Adoption Agencies (RAAs) to develop and trial what good practice around contact looks like, with a view to setting national standards in this area. This includes investigating what support is needed for children, birth parents, and adoptive parents. RAAs are also currently trialling a new programme called ‘Letterswap', a new digital platform to improve the current ‘Letterbox’ system. The published adoption strategy is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adoption-strategy-achieving-excellence-everywhere.

Schools: Sports

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatplans they have to increase sports funding for schools.

Baroness Barran: The department continues to deliver year on year increases to school funding, with the total core school budget increasing to £56.8 billion by the 2024/25 academic year. This is a £7 billion cash increase, compared with 2021/22. In addition to the school’s core budget, the department confirmed that for the 2022/23 academic year, primary schools will continue to receive the £320 million PE and sport premium. In October 2021, the department announced nearly £30 million a year to improve the teaching of physical education at primary school, and to open primary and secondary school sport facilities in the evenings, at weekends, and during the holidays. To support the pupils who the department knows are most inactive, such as girls and pupils with special education needs and disabilities, we are investing nearly £2 million over a three-year period to deliver the Inclusion 2024 programme and the girls’ competitive sport Your Time initiative.

Young People: Farmers

The Earl of Leicester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve the rates of young people in the UK forging careers in the farming industry.

Baroness Barran: The department has introduced T Levels which will provide students with a high quality, technical alternative to A levels after GCSEs. T Levels in Agriculture, Land Management & Production and Animal Care & Management will be available from September 2023. We are committed to supporting more young people into apprenticeships in the agriculture, environmental and animal care sectors. Funding for apprenticeships in England will grow to £2.7 billion by the 2024/25 financial year to support more apprenticeships in employers of all sizes. There are currently 40 high-quality, employer-designed apprenticeship standards available in these sectors, in occupations such as crop technician, livestock unit technician and agriculture professional adviser. Alongside this, there are a number of land-based providers delivering specific provision in farming and agriculture to cater for those pursing qualifications and careers in these areas. The Free Courses for Jobs offer, which was launched in April 2021, gives eligible adults the chance to access high value level 3 qualifications, including 18 agricultural qualifications, for free, which can support them to gain higher wages or a better job. The Careers & Enterprise Company is supporting schools and colleges to embed best practice in the delivery of careers information, advice and guidance, so young people are aware of the full range of training and careers available to them and have access to a broad range of employers and workplaces, including those in the agricultural, forestry and fishing sectors. This will be delivered through the national roll-out of Career Hubs, Career Leader training, and the Enterprise Adviser Network. The National Careers Service, a free, government funded careers information, advice and guidance service draws on a range of labour market information to support and guide individuals. It is impartial, and careers guidance is tailored to individual needs, but careers advisers can play a key role in alerting people to the range of farming careers available. National Careers Service supports this through disseminating regular information to careers advisers. The Service website gives customers access to a range of useful digital tools and resources to support them including ‘Explore Careers’ which includes more than 130 industry areas and more than 800 job profiles including include a range of roles in the farming industry, describing what those roles entail, qualifications and entry routes.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Bahrain: Human Rights

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to (1) the visit byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon to Bahrain in February, and (2) the comment by a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson to the Middle East Eye on 22 June which said that “a number of human rights cases were raised with senior members of the Bahrain Government by Lord Ahmad during his visit in February”, what were the names of individuals whose cases Lord Ahmad raised with the government of Bahrain during this visit.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: During my visit to Bahrain, I discussed human rights issues and the individual cases of Abduljalil Al Singace, Mohammed Ramadan and Hussain Moosa during my meetings with senior members of the Government of Bahrain, as well as with the independent human rights oversight bodies.

Sri Lanka: Development Aid

Lord Naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they have given to the government of Sri Lanka to help meet that country's emergency needs for (1) life saving drugs, and (2) other medical equipment.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is closely monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka, particularly as it relates to the supply of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment supplies. The UK contributes to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) Operation in Sri Lanka. The DREF is supporting the Sri Lanka Red Cross with an allocation of CHF691,002 in response to shortages and civil unrest. It will support with the provision of essential medicine, first aid and psychosocial support. We are also working to support the United Nations (UN) and its agencies in the coordination of their response based on the UN's recent joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) Plan, launched on 9 June. This called for US$47.2 million to provide life-saving assistance to 1.7 million people who are most at risk and need immediate support. The World Bank have announced assistance of US$400 million, which includes funds to meet medicines and medical equipment needs. The UK is a major donor of the UN and World Bank.The UK recognises the difficult economic situation and welcomes the ongoing in-depth discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on reforms needed to bring the economy back to a sustainable path. The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe on 30 May and underlined the UK's continued support to the people of Sri Lanka during these economic difficulties.

Syria: Refugees

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the levels of repatriation of European citizens, in particular women and children, who were held in closed camps in north-east Syria; and what representations theyhave received from (1) Save the Children, and (2) others, on this issue.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK continues to work with and learn from our international partners on a range of issues to help address the difficult situation in north east Syria, including in relation to camps for displaced persons, where we continue to provide humanitarian assistance. We are aware of a number of reports that have been published on this issue, including by Save the Children. It is ultimately a matter for individual countries how they address any situations involving their nationals, including, where applicable, repatriation to the country of origin.

Football: Qatar

Lord Birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether all UK football fans, regardless of their sexuality, can safely attend the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: During a visit to Doha on 4-5 July, the Minister for the Middle East, Rt Hon. Amanda Milling MP, raised this with local organisers. They reiterated their public commitment that "everybody is welcome" to the tournament, including LGBT+ visitors. We will continue to encourage the equal treatment of all fans and respect for individual rights so that anyone, of any background, can go and enjoy themselves.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Marine Environment: International Cooperation

Lord Randall of Uxbridge: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to support the international implementation of the Global Ocean Alliance 30by30 initiative.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Since 2019, the UK has been leading the Global Ocean Alliance (GOA) of countries championing ambitious ocean action under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including the ‘30by30’ target to protect at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030. The ocean has historically been underrepresented in the CBD, and the GOA plays an important role in raising the profile of ocean and marine issues. In addition to leading the GOA, the UK also serves as Co-Chair of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature & People, alongside Costa Rica and France. The HAC champions 30by30 for both the land and the ocean. Between these two UK-led alliances, nearly 120 countries support 30by30 for the ocean, and over 100 countries support 30by30 for both the land and the ocean. As we approach the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the CBD in December 2022, the UK will continue its proactive leadership role in both the GOA and HAC, working with Costa Rica, France, and members of both ambition groups, to call for the 30by30 target to be enshrined within the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The UK is committed to securing an ambitious outcome at COP15, including ambitious outcomes for the ocean, to halt and reverse biodiversity loss globally by 2030. It is also crucial that we continue working after COP15 to support the global implementation of the GBF, including the 30by30 target. We are therefore delighted that the UK, Costa Rica, and France published a joint communique during the Stockholm+50 conference in June 2022, outlining plans for the HAC for Nature and People to evolve into a new phase to support the implementation of the 30by30 target following COP15, and we welcome the opportunity this provides for further collaboration with the GOA both ahead of and post-COP15. In addition, the UK continues to provide support for marine protection internationally, including through the £500 million Blue Planet Fund. The Blue Planet Fund, financed from the UK overseas aid budget, will support developing countries to protect and sustainably manage their marine resources and address human-generated threats across four key themes: biodiversity, climate change, marine pollution, and sustainable seafood.

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of (1) the shortage of seasonal workers in the first six months of this year, and (2) the extent of the impact to crops of fruit and vegetables; and what plans they have to address this in 2023.

Lord Benyon: Horticulture has long relied on seasonal workers to bring home the harvest. After a series of annual pilots the government announced last December that the Seasonal Worker visa route has been extended to 2024 to allow overseas workers to come to the UK for up to six months to harvest both edible and ornamental crops. An initial allocation of 30,000 visas was made available for 2022, which will be increased to 40,000 (including 2000 for the poultry sector). Defra continues to monitor the supply of labour to UK horticulture throughout the year, working with operators and sector growers to ensure there is sufficient labour for harvesting the UK's fruit and vegetable crops.

Home Office

Asylum: Rwanda

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 4 July (HL1084), what is the maximum acceptable cost of transporting asylum claimants from the UK to Rwanda under the terms of the UK–Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership; and whether asylum seekers will be liable personally to fund any part of that cost.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Under the terms of the Migration and Economic Development Partnership the United Kingdom will arrange the transport for relocating individuals to Rwanda.We do not routinely disclose commercial or operational information relating to individual charter flights. However, no asylum seeker will be liable to fund any part of the costs related to their relocation to Rwanda.

Offenders: Deportation

Lord Parekh: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether citizens of Commonwealth countries may be deported after serving custodial sentences for criminal offences in the UK; and if so, what assessment they have made of the effect of this policy on UK residents who arrived from Commonwealth countries before 1973 and may therefore be without documentation of their residential status.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Commonwealth citizens convicted of a crime in the UK and given a prison sentence will be considered for deportation at the earliest opportunity. Deportation will be pursued where it is conducive to the public good including where a person receives a custodial sentence of 12 months or more, commits an offence that caused serious harm or is a persistent offender. Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971 provides an exemption from deportation for Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK on 1 January 1973 and ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 5 years before the decision to make a deportation order. The onus is on the person claiming an exemption under section 7 to prove they meet the criteria.

British Nationality: Assessments

Lord Rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they havemade of conducting 'Life in the UK' tests in (1) Welsh, and (2) Scots Gaelic, with only a handbook in English; and what plans they have to produce handbooks in those languages.

Lord Rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plansthey have for including Cornish (1) culture, (2) history, and (3) language, in the 'Life in the UK' test.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Life in the UK test requires candidates to learn and build an understanding of the culture, laws and history of the UK, which helps candidates to engage with and integrate into life in the UK. Applicants taking the test in Wales can opt to sit the test in Welsh, and those taking the test in Scotland can sit the test in Scottish Gaelic. The Test, in its current form, has been in place for nearly 10 years and the Home Office intends to set out plans to review the content of the handbook within the next 12 months. Any review will consider the impact the current test content has had in the past 10 years, including the languages which the test can be taken and the materials provided.

Human Trafficking

Lord Rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what data they hold on the routeof travel of people illegally trafficked into the UK.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Government is resolute in its commitment to tackle Organised Immigration Crime. In the closely related crimes of people smuggling and human trafficking, our law enforcement partners bear down on the Organised Criminal Groups (OCGs) who facilitate illegal travel to the UK and who exploit vulnerable migrants, often treating them as commodities and knowingly putting people in life-threatening situations.We work closely with international law enforcement partners to share intelligence data and dismantle these networks to disrupt the illegal movement of people and the various routes they take to enter the UK.We have a dedicated Organised Immigration Crime Taskforce, led by the National Crime Agency (NCA), committed to dismantling OCGs engaged in immigration crime. The Taskforce is active in 17 countries worldwide, and its activities include supporting judicial and intelligence capacity building in source and transit countries, and intelligence sharing in key near Europe countries to disrupt people smuggling.We also share information about criminality around small boats between agencies. This includes the Joint Intelligence Cell in France and international networks of both NCA and Home Office. Since July 2020, the Joint Intelligence Cell has taken down 17 small boat OCGs and secured over 400 arrests – taking the criminals behind these crossings off the street. Our cooperation with the French has also prevented more than 23,000 migrant crossing attempts.Alongside our efforts to tackle organised immigration crime we continue to strengthen our efforts to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking. The UK works with partner countries and international law enforcement authorities to disrupt criminal networks and protect potential victims from being trafficked and exploited in the UK.

Deportation

Lord Rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many charter deportation flights took place in 2021; and how many deportees were on each of those flights.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: This Government’s priority is keeping the people of this country safe, and we make no apology for seeking to remove dangerous foreign criminals. Foreign nationals who abuse our hospitality by committing crimes should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them.Charter flight operations are an important means to return disruptive individuals or where they are limited scheduled routes, particularly during the global Coronavirus pandemic. We manage the charter programme flexibly, balancing it with the use of scheduled flights to best respond to operational needs.In the calendar year 2021 – The Home Office operated 63 flights removing 1365 individuals.FLIGHT DATEDESTINATIONNUMBER OF PEOPLE REMOVED13/01/2021ROMANIA2519/01/2021LITHUANIA2326/01/2021POLANDLess than 1004/02/2021ROMANIA3411/02/2021LITHUANIA1618/02/2021POLAND1625/02/2021HUNGARY & BULGARIA1502/03/2021ROMANIA2009/03/2021LITHUANIALess than 1018/03/2021POLAND1324/03/2021ROMANIA1231/03/2021LITHUANIA2008/04/2021HUNGARY & BULGARIA1113/04/2021ROMANIA3015/04/2021POLAND2319/04/2021ALBANIA2021/04/2021VIETNAM2727/04/2021ROMANIA2929/04/2021POLAND1506/05/2021HUNGARY & BULGARIALess than 1011/05/2021LITHUANIA2213/05/2021ALBANIA3018/05/2021POLAND1820/05/2021ALBANIA2925/05/2021ROMANIA3027/05/2021ALBANIA2403/06/2021ALBANIA3110/06/2021ALBANIALess than 1015/06/2021LITHUANIA1517/06/2021ALBANIA1922/06/2021POLAND1824/06/2021ROMANIA2001/07/2021ALBANIA3706/07/2021SPAIN & PORTUGALLess than 1013/07/2021ROMANIA & LITHUANIA3015/07/2021ALBANIA1221/07/2021ZIMBABWE1428/07/2021VIETNAM2003/08/2021POLAND1305/08/2021ALBANIA2210/08/2021JAMAICALess than 1017/08/2021POLAND & ROMANIA2219/08/2021ALBANIA2725/08/2021ZIMBABWELess than 1001/09/2021NIGERIA & GHANALess than 1014/09/2021POLAND & ROMANIA3316/09/2021ALBANIA3428/09/2021LITHUANIA1830/09/2021ALBANIA3905/10/2021POLAND & ROMANIA2907/10/2021ALBANIA2213/10/2021ALBANIA1621/10/2021ALBANIA2927/10/2021LITHUANIA1802/11/2021ROMANIA1904/11/2021ALBANIA3510/11/2021JAMAICALess than 1016/11/2021POLAND1418/11/2021ALBANIA1330/11/2021ROMANIA3002/12/2021LITHUANIA1009/12/2021ALBANIA2814/12/2021POLAND1616/12/2021ALBANIA2121/12/2021LITHUANIA16 The Home Office has obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation Act 2018 and in law generally to protect personal data. This exempts personal data if disclosure would contravene any of the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

Migrants: Detainees

Lord Rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the hourly rate of pay for detainees in immigration removal centres; and how many hours have been worked by detainees in each year since 2015.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: In accordance with the Detention Centre Rules 2001, all detained persons should be provided with an opportunity to participate in activities to meet, as far as possible, their recreational and intellectual needs. This includes the provision of voluntary paid activity opportunities. Rule 17 of the Detention Centre Rules permits those in detention to engage voluntarily in paid activities. These activities are provided to meet the recreational and intellectual needs of detained individuals. In accordance with Rule 17, pay rates are determined by the Secretary of State for the Home Department. The currently approved rates of pay are £1 per hour and, for specified projects, £1.25 per hour, as set out in the published Detention Services Order 1/2013 ‘Paid Activities’. Management information on the number of hours of paid activity undertaken by detained individuals for each year from 2015 is set out in the table below. This is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.Total hours of paid activity undertaken 2015 - 920,5972015 - 881,0772017 - 669,2132018 - 532,8762019 - 454,0002020 - 250,9702021 - 126,2822022 (January 1st to June 30th) - 98,351

Seasonal Workers: Visas

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatplans they have toprovide advance notice for the 2023 allocation of seasonal worker visas.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: On the 24 December 2021, the Government announced the continuation of the Seasonal Worker route until 2024, including how quotas will be set throughout this period.

Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the applications of Ukrainian refugees through the Homes for Ukraine scheme are processed as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

Lord Harrington of Watford: UKVI have issued thousands of visas under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme. The latest figures can be found here: Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) visa data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Ukrainians with valid passports can now prove their identity using the UK Immigration: ID check app as part of the application. There are fewer steps to complete and an improved customer experience.More information on the ID check app, including a video giving top tips, can be found on GOV.UK at: Using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Immigration

Lord Rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of theintegration of immigrants in UK society; and what plans they have to improve this integration.

Lord Harrington of Watford: The Government takes the integration of immigrants into UK society very seriously and this is reflected in our specific resettlement and welcome programmes for arrivals from Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. These programmes are all designed to support new arrivals in understanding life in our country, their responsibilities, and the opportunities that exist for them.Through bespoke resettlement and welcome packages for arrivals from Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong, the Government continues to monitor the integration needs of new arrivals, working closely with local authorities and other organisations to gather data and inform policy development.All refugees to the UK have immediate access to the labour market and to mainstream services that support their integration, including benefits and healthcare. We ask local authorities to provide monitoring data on refugees who arrive via a UK Resettlement Scheme, which covers their first year in the UK. The data covers key areas such as education, employment, health and English language.The Government also understands the vital role that education plays in promoting integration and preparing our children and young people for life in a modern and diverse Britain. All schools must promote community cohesion; and are required to actively promote our shared values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs.

Tenants' Associations (Provisions Relating to Recognition and Provision of Information) (England) Regulations 2018

Lord Young of Cookham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whenthe reviewof the effectiveness of the Tenants’ Associations (Provisions Relating to Recognition and Provision of Information) (England) Regulations 2018 will be carried out.

Lord Harrington of Watford: The Government wants to make it easier for leaseholders to come together to take on responsibilities for their properties. We are currently considering the Law Commission's report and recommendations on improvements to the Right to Manage for leaseholders. We will also continue to monitor the operation of the Statutory Instrument.

Treasury

Car Allowances

Lord Strathcarron: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the 45 pence per mile HMRC mileage rate motoring allowancein the light of current levels of inflation.

Baroness Penn: The Government sets the Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAP) rates to minimise administrative burdens. The AMAP rates aim to reflect running costs including fuel, servicing and depreciation. Depreciation is estimated to constitute the most significant proportion of the AMAP rates. Employers are not required to use the AMAP rates. Instead, they can agree to reimburse the actual cost incurred, where individuals can provide evidence of the expenditure, without an Income Tax or National Insurance charge arising. Alternatively, they can choose to pay a different mileage rate that is higher or lower than the AMAP rates. If an employee is paid less than the approved amount, they are allowed to claim Mileage Allowance Relief (MAR) from HMRC. However, if the payment exceeds the relevant AMAP rate, and this results in a profit for the individual, they will be liable to pay Income Tax and National Insurance contributions on the difference. As with all taxes and allowances, the Government keeps the AMAP rates under review and any changes are considered by the Chancellor.

Fuels: Excise Duties

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the five pence per litre cut to fuel duty is passed on to consumers.

Baroness Penn: The Government has been clear that it expects all those in the supply chain to pass the fuel duty cut through to consumers in full. In June, the Business Secretary requested that the independent Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) undertake an urgent review of the market for road fuel. The CMA’s initial findings suggest that the fuel duty cut appears to have been largely passed through, with the largest fuel retailers doing so immediately and others more gradually. The Government fully supports the CMA in its further work to better understand the supply of the road fuel in the UK, and will await these findings.

Fuels: Excise Duties

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what price petrol and diesel would need to reach in order to prompt them to further cut fuel duty.

Baroness Penn: The temporary 12-month cut to duty on petrol and diesel of 5p per litre represents a £2.4 billion tax cut in 2022-23. All taxes, including fuel duty, remain under review.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Mobile Broadband: Cybersecurity

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the vulnerability of mobile internet systems in the UK to hostile actions; and what steps they plan to take to ensure that all homes and businesses have access to landline connections.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: DCMS works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to understand and identify vulnerabilities. The NCSC has performed extensive and detailed analysis of the security of the telecommunications sector. This analysis informed the UK Telecommunications Supply Chain Review, and subsequently informed the development of the Telecommunications (Security) Act, which received Royal Assent in November 2021.The Act introduces a new telecommunications security framework in the UK which places duties on public telecommunications providers to protect their networks and services against security compromises. It also introduces new national security powers which are designed to manage the risks posed by high-risk vendors, both now and in the future.The universal service obligations set in the Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order 2003 require designated providers to offer telephony services throughout the UK. BT and KCOM are therefore required to maintain access to a range of telephony services (including landlines), as well as provide a series of special measures designed for users who have a disability.